Close to £20,000 was raised for the Alzheimer’s Society at the Dan Wheldon Memorial Kart Race, with a host of international racing drivers and paying members of the public to remember the late IndyCar racer, who was killed during an horrific multi-car pile-up at the season-ending race at Las Vegas.

A multitude of drivers from Formula 1, IndyCars, touring cars, sports cars and other open-wheel categories were on-hand to show their support at the event, which was held at the Daytona Motorsport kart centre at Milton Keynes on Monday night.

The guest list of professional drivers included former World Champion Jenson Button, IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti, along with Anthony Davidson, Martin Brundle, Johnny Herbert, Mike Conway, James Hinchliffe, James Thompson, Nicolas Minassian, David Coulthard and Rob Huff.

Fittingly, the winner of the team was headed by Button’s team, with the 2009 World Champion teaming up with Wheldon’s father, Clive, in the DW Lionheart team.

The event ran under a ‘Cash for Penalties’ system, which allowed teams to pay bribes to ensure rival teams were given black-flag penalties!

This allowed Franchitti’s team – co-run with Dan’s sister, Holly – to finish in second place.

“I said all along that I didn’t want it to be competitive. I wanted it to be fun and for everyone to enjoy the memory of Dan and come together as friends – it was better than I could ever have hoped,” said the event’s organiser, Johnny Mowlem, Wheldon’s friend and professional GT racer.

“I’ve been overwhelmed by the level of support from everybody; not just the drivers, but the whole motorsport community. Everybody I asked got involved and it’s a testament to Dan that so many people took part and came along and watched.

“You could feel the warmth of feeling and I have never been to an event like that. The atmosphere did Dan proud and would have really touched him had he been there.

“The highlight for me was seeing Clive and his family smiling, and being happy during the race. I wanted it to be a happy event, rather than a sad one.”